Disturbances Follow Death In Norwalk

July 02, 1993

NORWALK — Incidents of rock and bottle throwing and random gun fire were reported in South Norwalk Thursday afternoon, apparently in reaction to reports that a robbery suspect had killed himself with a shot to the head during a confrontation with police early Thursday.

Police said there were no arrests resulting from the public disturbance, which officers and community leaders were trying to contain late in the afternoon. Mayor Frank Esposito declared a curfew from 7:30 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. today in the Woodward Avenue and South Main and Grove streets area.

Police said scattered rock and bottle throwing still was going on about 9 p.m. Thursday, but there were no arrests of curfew violators.

Police believe the disturbance was linked to the death of Keith Sumpter, who they said died of a self-inflicted wound after first firing at an officer. The state medical examiner's office confirmed the police account that Sumpter, whose age was not available, had killed himself.

The series of events began when Officer Michael King, on patrol downtown, was stopped about 1 a.m. by a man who said he had been robbed of a gold chain by a gunman on a bicycle, police said.

A few minutes later, King approached a man on a bicycle fitting the gunman's description and ordered him to stop, police said.

Sumpter turned with a gun in his hand and shot at the officer, said Police Chief Carl LaBianca. King returned fire, and the suspect fired again as he ran behind a car and got away, police said.

When police officers spotted Sumpter coming out of a driveway, he was ordered to drop his gun, the chief said. Instead, Sumpter put the gun "up at his temple and shot himself," LaBianca said.